Reports about striking deal between Syrian regime and YPG on Afrin are propaganda: Presidential spokesperson

ANKARA

Presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said on Feb. 20 that reports about striking a deal between the Syrian regime and People’s Protection Units (YPG) are propaganda.

“It is clear that the reports about striking a deal between the regime and PYD/YPG have the purpose of propaganda. However, it does not mean there has not been a set of dirty and secret negotiations. ‘Operation Olive Branch’ will continue with determination and achieve its aim, no matter what they do,” Kalın said in a tweet via his official Twitter account.

On Feb. 19, state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that pro-regime “Popular Forces” would enter Afrin in northwestern Syria where a Turkish military operation to remove YPG militants is ongoing.

The YPG is said to have held talks with the Syrian regime after more than 70 different strategic areas were captured as a result of Turkey’s “Operation Olive Branch.”

Meanwhile, Syrian government forces have yet to enter the Afrin region and it was unclear if they would, Turkey's foreign minister said on Feb. 20.

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu made the comment in an interview with broadcaster Kanal 24. Syrian state media said that pro-government forces would enter Afrin "within hours" but by sunset there were no signs of a deployment there.

Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” on Jan. 20 to clear YPG militants from Afrin.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Bekir Bozdağ on Feb. 19 called the reports by SANA “unrealistic,” adding that officials have not confirmed pro-regime forces would enter Afrin.

“Although the official Syrian news agency SANA has reported that some forces linked to the Syrian regime will enter Afrin, this news has not been confirmed by official authorities. It is unrealistic and unrelated to fact,” Bozdağ told reporters following the cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.